Dispensing container



Jan. 29, 1963 J. H. FREDETTE 3, 5,6 3

DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed June 15, 1960 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Jan.29,' 1963 a J. H. FREDETTE 3,

DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed June 15, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOSf/W lltWRY mmzrrf 3,075,673 DISPENSING CONTAINER Joseph Henry Fredette, New York, N.Y., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 15, 196i Ser. No. 36,361 7 Claims. (til. 222-103) This invention relates generally to double seamed containers made of sheet metal of the type having upwardly extending domed tops which are formed with centrally disposed dispensing devices through which liquid or semiliquid products may be dispensed, and has particular reference to such a container wherein a flexible plastic shield or overcap is provided to cover the domed top to prevent the accumulation of drippings of the products which may fall on the domed top during the time they are being dispensed.

In containers wherein a conventional double seam is used to connect the domed top to the container body, a countersunk annular channel or groove is necessarily formed which lies inwardly of the double seam. Such containers are commonly used in aerosol packages for liquid or semi-liquid products such as insecticides, paints, deodorants, foamed creams, pastes, etc., and it frequently happens that small quantities of such products drip from the dispensing valve onto the container top and collect in the aforesaid annular countersunk groove and are difficult to remove or wipe away.

This invention has as its particular object the provision of an overcap or protective shield of novel construction which bridges the countersunk channel or groove from the top of the double seam to the upper end of the domed top and thus prevents the accumulation of such product drippage in the annular countersunk groove.

Another object of this invention is the provision of such an overcap or protective shield which is made of flexible plastic material and which at its outer edge engages against the double seam and at its inner edge is pressed downwardly by an overhanging portion of the container and is thus maintained firmly in place against inadvertent dislodgment.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a flexible plastic overcap which may be snapped into position either before or after the container has been filled with the product and the dispensing valve secured in place thereon, and which thus can be applied to the container at the can factory prior to shipment to the can filling plant.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompany drawings, discloses a prefered embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a domed top container made according to the principlesof the instant invention wherein a plastic overcap is held in position on the container by an outward curl formed at the upper edge of the dome top;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through the upper portion of the container in FIG. 1, parts being broken away;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention;

PEG. 4 is a plan view of a second modified form of the inveniton, the plastic overcap in this modification being retained in place by a cap which is permanently secured to the upper end of the container; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

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As a preferred and exemplary embodiment of the instant invention, FIG. 1 illustrates a container formed of sheet metal and having a cylindrical body 11 formed with the usual side seam 12, the body 11 being closed at its bottom by a conventional double seamed end (not shown) which is secured to its lower marginal edge portion in a liquid-tight joint. A substantially domed shaped top end or breast 13 is attached to the upper marginal edge of the body 11 in a conventional double seam 14 which comprises two marginal body layers interlocked with and disposed between three folded marginal layers of the top end 13. A sealing gasket 15 is incorporated in the seam 14 to provide a hermetic seal.

The double seam 14 includes a curved top ledge or wall 16 and a vertical inner wall 17 which at its bottom end merges into an upwardly extending curved Wall 18 of the top end 13, thus forming a countersunk channel or groove 19 which is disposed radially inwardly of the double seam 14. The wall 18 extends upwardly and inwardly in a gently curved line and at its upper end merges into a short vertical wall 20 which continues outwardly, downwardly and inwardly to form an annular hollow curl 21 having an inner terminal edge which engages the outer surface of the vertical wall 20. The wall 29 and the hollow curl or bead 21 define a central opening in the container which will subsequently be closed and sealed by a suitable sealing or dispensing device, such as an aerosol dispensing valve.

It is well known that when dispensing valves are utilized to dispense liquid or semi-liquid products, in many instances some of the product drips from the valve onto the upper portions of the container during and after the dispensing operation. It will be readily seen by reference to FIG. 2 that the annular channel or groove 19 constitutes a trap wherein such drippings may collect if means are not provided to prevent the liquid from flowing into the groove. In order to prevent the entrapment of such drippings, and to enhance the appearance of the package, a protective shield or overcap 22 is provided which bridges or spans the channel 19 and extends from the top wall 16 of the double seam 14 to the upper end of the upwardly and inwardly extending curved wall portion .18 immediately below the hollow curl 21.

The overcap 22 is preferably formed of a flexible or resilient plastic material, such as polyethylene which is stiff enough to be self-supporting and flexible enough to resume its original shape after deformation.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the outer edge of the overcap 22 is formed with a substantially horizontal wall portion 23 which overlies and engages against the upper wall 16 of the double seam 14, and a depending annular pluglike wall 24 which is adapted to make frictional engagement within the inner wall 17 of the double seam 14. The horizontal wall 23 merges into a gently curved upwardly and inwardly extending domed wall 25, the inner marginal portion of which underlies the hollow curl 21 and terminates in a smooth inner edge 26. Because of its flexibility, the overcap can be readily snapped into position on the top of the container, the wall 25 deforming during such application but readily returning to its original shape once it has passed over the curl 21. It is preferable, however, to so shape the overcap wall 25 that its inner marginal edge is prevented from completely returning to its original position, but rather that it is held in a slightly depressed position by the hollow curl 21 in order that the overcap 22 be more firmly held in position on the container. As a result of this downward pressure exerted by the curl 21, the walls 23 and 24 of the overcap are pressed firmly against the double seam 14 to form a seal which prevents the ready flow of liquid between these parts.

:valve 32 projects, and a depending annular flange wall .firmly maintained in place. The overcap 22 may-either besnapped into position after the plug 28 and the plastic In the modified version or' the invention seen in FIG. 3, .the .main portion of the marginal inner edge 26 of the overcap 22 is disposed radially outwardly of the hollow curl 21, but a plurality of integral, inwardly extending lugs 27 are provided which snap beneath the hollow curl 21 to hold the overcap 22 in place on the container.

FIGS. 4 and 5 disclose another modified form of the invention. In this form, the central opening of the domed top 13 is closed by a cup shaped plug member 28 which is formed with an expanded head 29 which locks beneath the vertical wall to hold the plug 28 in place on the container. The upper end of the plug 28 is provided with an outwardly extending half-curl 30 which snugly engages around at least a portion of 1 the hollow curl 21 and is formed with a sharp annular edge 31 disposed substantially in the horizontal diametral plane of the curl 21. A suitable sealing gasket (not shown) is preferably interposed between the curl 30 and hollow curl 21 to provide a hermetic seal between these parts.

The plug 28 carries on it a dispensing valve 32 which is of the type normally used for dispensing products in aerosol cans, the tip 33 of the valve 32 being removable. The valve 32 may have secured at its lower end a dip tube 34 which projects downwardly to the bottom of the container to facilitate the flow of the product to the valve 32. The details of construction of the valve 32 and dip tube 34 form no part of the instant invention and thus are not shown.

The plug member 28 is covered by a cap 35, preferably made of a suitable plastic material, which is formed with a centrally perforated horizontal top wall 36 having a central opening 37 through which the dispensing 3 318, the lower portion of which engages beneath the annular sharp edge 31 of the plug 28 to lock the cap in position. The cap 35 is preferably applied to the container by merely pressing it downwardly over the plug 28 prior to the application of the valve tip 33, the inner diameter of the cap wall 38 being less than the outer diameter of the plug curl 30 so that a tight force fit is obtained between the plug 28 andthe cap 35. The plastic of the cap 35 is preferably soft enough to permit the sharp edge 31 to actually bite into the annular flange wall 38. In this modified form, the inner edge 26 of the .ovcrcap wall 25 terminates beneath the annular bottom edge or wall 39 of the plastic cap 35, this bottom ;edge 39 preferably extending downwardly a sufiicient distance to exert a downward pressure against the overcap wall 25 to hold the overcap 22 firmly in place on the container. If desired, the overcap wall 25 may be :pressed against the domed wall .18 (as shown in FIG. '5) to prevent undue flexing of the overcap wall 25.

As clearly seen in FIG. 5, the inner edge 26 of the overcap. 22 in this form of the invention is disposed outwardly of the plug curl 30, but it nevertheless engages beneath a portion of the container, in this case beneath thebottom wall39 of cap 35, so that the overcap 22 is cap 35 have been applied to the container, or may be applied prior to the assembly of these parts.

It will be obviousthat the plug member 28 and cap 35 can be used in conjunction with the overcap con- 6 structions disclosed in FIGS. 1-3.

rangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its mate- 'rial advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely-a preferred embodiment thereof.

5 inner wall, a peripheral countersunk channel disposed laterally inwardly of said seam, said container end extending upwardly and inwardly from said channel to form a domed top having a central opening, an overcap of flexible resilient plastic bridging said channel and ex- 9 tending from said seam to the upper portion of said container end adjacent said opening, the outer marginal edge portion of said overcap having portions engaged with said upper and'inner walls of said seam, and said domed top having means extending outwardly of said 5 opening in overlying engagement with an upper surface portion of said overcap adjacent the inner marginal edge thereof for maintaining said overcap in position on said container.

2. In a liquid dispensing container, a container body,

20 a top hermetically connected with said body in an up- 25 end into an upwardly and outwardly extending curl, and a protective overcap of flexible resilient material extending inwardly from the top wall of said seam and having a portion terminating beneath said curl for confinement thereunder to maintain said overcap in position on said 0 container, said overcap overlying at least a portionof the top wall of said seam and being formed with a vertically .depending plug portion which is engageable against the inner wall of said seam.

3. A liquid dispensing container, as defined in claim 2, 5 wherein said flexible resilient overcap material is polyethylene.

4. A liquid dispensing container, as defined in claim 2, wherein the portion of said overcap which terminates beneath said curl comprises a plurality of inwardly ex- 40 tending circumferentially spaced lugs resiliently snapped beneath said curl.

5. A liquid dispensing container, as defined in claim 2, wherein said top and said overcap are substantially dome shaped, and wherein the portion of said overcap which terminates beneath said curl defines an opening which is of substantially lesser diameter than the outer diameter of the overlying curl for maintaining said overcap under resilientstress to exert an upward pressure against said curl to firmly position said overcap on said container.

6. In a liquid dispensing container, a container body, atop hermetically connected with said body in an upwardly extending seam, a peripheral countersunk channel disposed laterally inwardly of said seam, said seam having a top wall and an inner wall, said top rising upwardly and 5 inwardly from said channel and merging at its upper end into an upwardly and outwardly extending curl, said curl defining a central opening which is sealed by a plug member, said plug member having a portion which is hermetically crimped around said curl, and a protective overcap 0 of flexible resilient material extending inwardly from the 'top wall of said seam and having a portion terminating beneath said curl for confinement thereunder to maintain said overcap in position on said container, said overcap overlying at least a portion of the top wall of said seam 5 and being formed with a vertically depending plug portion which is engageable against the inner wall of said seam.

7. In a liquid dispensing container, a container body, a top hermetically connected with said body in an upwardly extending seam, a countersunk channel disposed inwardly of said seam, said seam having a top Wall and an inner wall, said top rising upwardly and inwardly from said channel and merging at its upper end into an outwardly extending curl, said curl defining a central opening which is sealed by a plug member, said plug memher having a portion which is hermetically crimped around said curl, a cap covering said plug member, said cap having an annular depending flange surrounding said curl, and a protective overcap of flexible resilient material extending inwardly from the top wall of said seam and terminating beneath and engaged by said flange to maintain said overcap in position on said container, said overcap overlying at least a portion of the top wall of said seam and being formed with a vertically depending plug portion which is engageable against the inner wall of said seam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 8, 1956 

1. A DISPENSING CONTAINER, COMPRISING A CONTAINER BODY AND A CONTAINER TOP END SECURED TOGETHER IN AN UPWARDLY EXTENDING PERIPHERAL SEAM HAVING AN UPPER WALL AND AN INNER WALL, A PERIPHERAL COUNTERSUNK CHANNEL DISPOSED LATERALLY INWARDLY OF SAID SEAM, SAID CONTAINER END EXTENDING UPWARDLY AND INWARDLY FROM SAID CHANNEL TO FORM A DOMED TOP HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING, AN OVERCAP OF FLEXIBLE RESILIENT PLASTIC BRIDGING SAID CHANNEL AND EXTENDING FROM SAID SEAM TO THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID CONTAINER END ADJACENT SAID OPENING, THE OUTER MARGINAL EDGE PORTION OF SAID OVERCAP HAVING PORTIONS ENGAGED WITH SAID UPPER AND INNER WALLS OF SAID SEAM, AND SAID DOMED TOP HAVING MEANS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID OPENING IN OVERLYING ENGAGEMENT WITH AN UPPER SURFACE PORTION OF SAID OVERCAP ADJACENT THE INNER MARGINAL EDGE THEREOF FOR MAINTAINING SAID OVERCAP IN POSITION ON SAID CONTAINER. 